Manso Tontokrom residents in the Ashanti Region’s Amansie South Municipality have increased their calls for the government to register their region under the Community Mining Scheme.
Young people and local opinion leaders think this will not only stop unemployment from rising but also protect the environment and waterways from the damaging effects of illegal mining, or “Galamsey.”
Residents gathered on Friday, March 1, 2024, to demand that the government send them a Community Mining Scheme with a deadline.
But on Saturday, there was a fight because some Asanko Gold Mines private security guards had entered the neighbourhood to guard a nearby mining concession.
According to reports, following a fight with the inhabitants, the private security guards opened fire, killing one of the people. The villagers then killed two of the guards as payback.
Kwabena Animounyam, the Chairman of the Manso Tontokrom Unit Committee, stated: “We want jobs for our people, and the Mining Company is focused on getting jobs for its people.” However, we are unaware of the motivation behind their use of the armed forces and goons to harass and threaten us.
We are Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s party people; hence, we want to ask him to intervene. We will not cast a ballot in the forthcoming elections if, by the end of June 2024, we are still not granted access to the Community Mining Scheme in Tontokrom.
About 90% of the young people in the town are now involved in illegal mining and other social vices as a result of the increased unemployment rate, which he bemoans.
Many young people from the surrounding communities are unemployed, so we are pleading with the authorities to intervene and find employment for us. The government ought to provide us with community mining and oversee our operations. This will put an end to the social vices that certain young people are engaging in. Without jobs, young people will engage in criminal activity. After years of operation, the Asanko Mining Company is not contributing to the development of our communities.
Asanko Mining Company Limited, which has been accusing the locals of encroaching on their legitimately acquired concessions, and the youth have been at odds for the past few years.
This has frequently led to accusations of military brutality, as residents say they are harassed by police who are frequently called in to crack down on illicit mining operations.
Now, the locals and opinion leaders are calling for the creation of a community mining scheme in order to put an end to the jokes.
